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Gamer Reviews

Critic Reviews

24 Reviews

7.47

PS Lifestyle

6.50

Andrew Smith — May 21, 2019

Overall, Observation has a handful of issues but is still an enjoyable game if you’re a fan of the puzzle and sci-fi genre. It takes around 8-10 hours to play through, which I believe is enough content to justify the $25 price tag. Despite only having one centralized location and some confusing puzzles along the way, the overall player controls and narrative of the story are intriguing enough to draw you in for the journey through space.

Game Informer

COGconnected

8.00

Isaac Monterose — May 21, 2019

She never seems to give any hints or suggestions and it was frustrating to get stuck on a puzzle because I didn’t have any idea of what to do or because SAM’s cursor had just missed a crucial puzzle object I needed so I didn’t realize that I could even interact with it.Luckily, these sorts of instances were rare so my frustration never soured my enjoyment of Observation’s story and its wonderfully unnerving atmosphere.

Wccftech.com

6.00

Nathan Birch — May 21, 2019

Observation spins a solid sci-fi yarn steeped in ominous atmosphere, but it fails to live up to its intriguing “Play as HAL 9000!” pitch. Too much of the game feels like irritating busy work as you wait for something interesting to happen. Folks who care about story first and foremost will want to give Observation a look, but those hoping for both an engaging plot and mechanics may find this space odyssey a drudgery.

Video Gamer

GameSpew

9.00

Richard Seagrave — May 21, 2019

If you’re after an experience like no other, that will challenge your problem-solving skills in logical and believable ways, you absolutely need to play Observation. It’s one of the most compelling and surprising games I’ve played in recent years. Its biggest achievement, though, is that it didn’t make me feel like I was playing a game; it made me feel like I was genuinely assisting a crew member in distress.

TechRaptor

USGamer

5.00

Hirun Cryer — May 21, 2019

Observation has no trouble grabbing you from the go, with gripping central mysteries and questions that demand answers. Painstaking progress through even the simplest commands and instructions counteract any sense of progress in Observation, and ultimately dilutes and cheapens the experience.

GameSpot

8.00

James O'Connor — May 22, 2019

Observation is a wonderful example of how to do focused, self-contained science-fiction storytelling in a game. It's well-written and clever, and nails the sci-fi tropes and aesthetics it both plays to and builds upon. It's a game that demands to be analyzed and thought about further once you're done with it, and while the internal world of the game is small, inhabiting it is a real pleasure.

IGN

9.00

Simon Cardy — May 21, 2019

Observation is a smart, original science fiction story propelled by its novel approach to puzzle design and stunning attention to detail. So often, an experience like this can struggle to find the balance between challenging gameplay and a captivating story, but Observation doesn't suffer from this, and the compelling plot is never halted by frustratingly obtuse conundrums. It simply doesn’t deal in obfuscation. Instead, it’s beautifully signposted without feeling clumsy, driving you through its labyrinth of hallways, and a story that grips from start to finish.

Push Square

8.00

John Cal McCormick — May 21, 2019

Observation uses the unfathomable vastness of space to wonderful effect, conjuring a palpable sense of both isolation and dread that rarely falters across the six or seven hours it'll take for you to see it though. Minor quibbles with some aspects of the storytelling and a couple of quality of life issues don't detract from what is an engrossing adventure that thrills far more frequently than it frustrates.

TSA

8.00

Aran Suddi — May 21, 2019

Observation is a sci-fi thriller that puts you in a situation quite unlike any other. You never quite know what to expect, but the writing is solid enough to make sense even at its most unbelievable, and the characters of Sam and Emma really grow on you. A few niggly navigational hiccups and a couple of dull puzzles can break the immersion a bit, but even so any sci-fi fan should have a look at Observation.

Game Reactor

8.00

Sam Bishop — May 21, 2019

What's more is that controlling SAM provided some of the most unique and innovative storytelling mechanics we've seen, without sharing too much about why that is (we don't want to spoil anything). It's something we haven't seen that much, and flips the often-seen concept of sci-fi AI on its head, providing some very interesting opportunities and surprises along the way. It's definitely worth checking out, and it's one for those who like something outside-the-box.

PS Universe

7.50

Timothy Nunes — May 21, 2019

Observation does a lot of things correctly. Honing in on the isolation of space generates a wonderful tension on its own. Some pacing issues keep it from excellence, but there is plenty of appeal here for many different gaming preferences.

Stevivor.com

8.00

Steve Wright — May 22, 2019

Despite those occasionals falter — and a somewhat polarising, disappointing ending — I was desperate to complete Observation to get to the bottom of its mystery. I enjoyed it so much that I immediately went out to acquire No Code’s last game, Stories Untold. I’d also be remiss to question the decision to release on PS4 and PC alone; future releases on Xbox One and Switch would only benefit it.